Project Director at Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS)

Job Summary

Under the supervision of the Country Director, and through delegation of her/his authority, the Project Director has the overall responsibility for the proper implementation and operational direction of JRS’ projects/programs in his/her geographical area of intervention. The Project Director also monitors the context to ensure programing is relevant and responsive to priority needs. In this capacity, the Project Director is also responsible for representing JRS publicly and externally at the field level for all programs under their supervision and for providing the direct link in communications between the Field Office Team and the Country Office team. Lastly, the Project Director provides security management of his geographical area and ensures all safety and security measures, including contingency plans and standard operating procedures.

Responsibilities And Tasks

• The Project Director has responsibility for the overall timely delivery of JRS programs portfolio in his/her geographical areas of operations.
• The Project Director with the support of Program Managers concerned has overall responsibility for proper delivery of programs and the smooth running of support services in his/her geographical area of intervention.
• The Project Director is at the source of program development and operational positioning in his/her geographical area of intervention, in line with JRS country strategy and in conjunction with programmatic and operational technical coordinators.
• The Project Director, as member of the Country Management Team contributes to the fulfilment of the aims and objectives of JRS’ presence in the country through other tasks as required and/or directed by the Country Director.
• When defining new operational activities, he/she coordinates the work of the relevant technical departments and of the administrative and logistical support teams, with a view to preparing project proposals that are complete, and in line with the donors’ formats and internal rules of JRS mission.
• S/He ensures that the safety plan for the field offices is up-to-date, and that all staff are aware of it and understand it.
• S/He ensures that staff has all the necessary tools to create and maintain good relationship with local administrative or security stakeholders.
• S/He ensures the smooth running of ongoing programs in the field offices (meeting of objectives, respecting timelines, budgetary monitoring, contractual reporting) and reports to his/her immediate supervisor.
• S/He is involved in identifying needs and proposing / leading assessments on the basis of agreed TOR (Terms of Reference) and with endorsement from his/her immediate supervisor.
• S/He supervises directly all staff in his/her geographical areas of operations or by delegation through the different program leads under their supervision.
• S/He guides the work of all staff, tracks the realization of their objectives, and leads the mid-term and final appraisal exercises.
• S/He ensures compliance with the Internal Rules and Procedures of JRS in the field offices.
• S/He delegates responsibility for the integration of any new employee on the base, and ensures that the context of program implementation, safety rules, logistical, administrative and financial procedures, as well as procedures for the use of communication and transportation are explained and understood.
• S/He handles the management of interpersonal conflicts that arise at his/her location and refers the matter to his/her immediate supervisor/ Human Resources in the event that he/she is not able to resolve the dispute.
• S/He is responsible for JRS reputation in her/his area of operation, and in that capacity ensures that the entire staff under his/her authority displays behaviour consistent with the values of the organization, with full respect for the local culture.
• With support from the National Logistics Officer s/he ensures that the needs of the field offices are met (support, programming), while making sure that all donor’s and internal procedures are respected, and that commitments are in line with available budgets.
• S/He is responsible for cost optimization; and uses budget tracking to achieve this; he/she ensures adequate financial resources for the running of the field offices.
• Regarding budget monitoring, he/she participates in team-based analysis (along with Programs, HR, Logistics and Finance) and is responsible for detecting anomalies and proposing adjustments to his/her immediate supervisor.
• S/He represents the organization before local actors, manage stakeholders, and ensures that good relations are maintained with each of them in compliance with JRS principles of neutrality and independence.
• S/he sends the internal and external reports to his/her immediate supervisor while meeting the internal deadlines for endorsement (Situation Report, incident report) and external contractual deadlines (project reports).
• S/he attends internal and external coordination meetings and participates actively in them and highlight the challenges in these meetings.

The tasks and responsibilities defined in this job description are non-exhaustive and can evolve depending on the project’s needs.

Qualifications and Experience

• Language skills: Proficient in English and fluent in Hausa.
• Education Degree: Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree or its equivalent in Project Management or any related field; Master's Degree in any related field is an added advantage
• Professional / Work Experience: Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience with at least 3 years in a managerial Role on similar Programs in INGOs, including strong and substantial technical supervisory experience.
• Significant previous experience managing operations for similar programming working with IDPs and Refugees.
• Commitment to JRS mission, vision and values; ability to convey with enthusiasm JRS’ role in accompanying and serving forcibly displaced people and to advocate for their right to protection and a life in dignity.
• High integrity, honesty, and confidentiality; ability to deal tactfully and discreetly with people, situations and information.
• Acceptance of diversity and inclusion as a core value.

Knowledge and skills:

• Good analytical and writing skills. Good management capacities and team leadership spirit, good security management and project management skills.
• Extensive knowledge of MS office.
• Exceptional reporting skills.
• Ability to work in stressful locations.
• Ability to manage teams remotely
• Good knowledge of institutional donor procedures and financial guidelines
• Knowledge of humanitarian actors
• Good management and pedagogical skills
• Excellent communication and diplomacy skills to manage relationship in potentially tense situations.
• Capacity to delegate and to supervise the work of a team.
• Good presentation skills.
• Flexible and adaptable to the needs of the team and organization.
• Strong commitment to support/develop capacity of staff.

Transversal skills:

• Able to adapt or change priorities according to the changing situation within a mission or the organization itself
• Ability to work independently while taking initiatives and showing a sense of responsibility
• Well organized, thorough, and ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work and manage affairs professionally and with maturity
• Ability to represent the activities and the mandate of JRS before local authorities
• Ability to integrate the local environment into operations, in its political, economic, and historical dimensions.
• Ability to work with various partners, in a spirit of openness, and with adaptable communications strategies.
• Strong listening and negotiation skills.
• Good people and communication skills.
• General ability to resist stress and particularly in unstable circumstances.